The Fellowship of Lifea Christian-based vegetarian group founded in 1973

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Articles

Port Vigil

From the Methodist Recorder dated April 18, 1996:

The export of live animals through the port of Dover has led to
almost daily demonstrations by animal rights campaigners, who are
receiving increasing support from local churches.

Dover is the only port in England where such exports continue, even
though the port authorities do not want the trade and tried to refuse
it, only to have their decision overturned by the High Court.

The protesters stand outside the dock gates in all weathers. The Rev
Gordon Newton, superintendent minister of the Dover and Deal circuit,
and his wife Elaine are often alongside the protesters. Mrs Newton, a
local preacher who is candidating for the ministry, maintains an often
silent vigil, with her placard "Jesus the Good Shepherd cares for his
Sheep".

"At the heart of the issue is the fact that animals are not
classified as sentient creatures by the Treaty of Rome," said Mr Newton.
"If this change could be made, new legislation would need to follow to
make conditions of travel and methods of slaughter more humane."

Mrs Newton stressed that the protest was not against Britain's
farmers or against eating meat. "It is crying out for compassion in
farming, for good morals and principles to return, for meat to be sent
abroad rather than live animals, creating more jobs in this country,"
she said.

Sheep

"These creatures suffer such appalling conditions. They are sent over
in their thousands to conditions so cruel that they are illegal here.
Many die during the journey itself."

Although there has been a temporary halt to all exports since the end
of March, next week sheep are expected to go in their masses for ritual
Muslim slaughter in fields just outside Paris.

"Until fears about BSE led to a ban on cattle exported from this
country, calves were packed into lorries, some suffering broken limbs,
or even crushed to death on the way," said Mrs Newton. "Those that
survive are chained in small crates in such a way that they can hardly
stand up or lie down properly. For six months they are left alone like
this, fed only liquids. By the time slaughter comes to release them from
their sufferings, they are so weak they cannot stand or walk."

Mrs Newton welcomes the increased support by the churches for the
protest. "The Church should be about getting out there in the world and
sharing the love and compassion of Jesus. Many conversations about God
have started up with other protesters.

"They are there because they care and many are genuinely wanting to
know where God is in all this. Some have started attending church. "You
won't have heard about the protesters who gave the police hot chocolate
because they were cold and wet, or about the continual requests for
Christian input, Christian services there, or about the Methodist, Roman
Catholic and Church of England clergy who stood together with the
protesters more than once to pray and read from the Bible as the lorries
went by.

"Very occasionally, a small minority will come in and use the protest
as an excuse to cause trouble. The people who go regularly are genuine
caring people, many who have never protested in any way before but feel
so strongly about this cause that they are compelled to take action.

"A small minority of church people criticise the protesters and do
not think Christians should be involved with such an 'unruly mob'. But
similar accusations were thrown against Jesus and John Wesley."